Light-powered light-emitting tissue marker

Abstract

Method and related system for marker-based navigation. A first image is capturing (S530) with a medical imaging apparatus (ENDO), whilst a light source (LS1) of an implanted marker device (MD) is in a low intensity state and a second light source (LS2) of the medical imaging apparatus (IA) is in a high intensity state, higher than the low intensity state of the marker. A second image is captured (S560) with the medical imaging apparatus (ENDO), whilst the light source (LS1) of the implanted marker device is in a high intensity state and the second light source (LS2) of the medical imaging apparatus (IA) is in a low intensity state, lower than the high intensity state of the marker. The two images may then be combined to obtain a combined image that represents the location of the marker at high signal-to-noise-ratio.

1 . System for marker-based navigation, comprising:
 an implantable marker device having a first light source, switchable into at least two intensity states, a low intensity state and a high intensity state;   a synchronizer logic; and   an imaging apparatus with a second light source to provide incident light, the said second light source switchable into at least two intensity states, a low intensity state and a high intensity state;   wherein the first light source of the marker device and the second light source are operable in synchrony by the synchronizer logic controlling the switching of the two light sources, the system thereby operable in two modes, in a beacon mode and in an exploration mode, so that, in exploration mode, the first light source is switched into low intensity state and the second light source is switched into high intensity state, and so that in beacon mode, the first light source is switched into high intensity state and the second light source is switched into low intensity state,   
       wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to be controlled by the synchronizer logic, or by a user, so as to capture at least one respective image in each of the two modes. 
     
     
         2 . System of  claim 1 , including an image processor configured to combine image information from the at least two images to form a combined image. 
     
     
         3 . System of  claim 1 , the image processor comprising a contrast enhancer to enhance contrast in the one or more images acquired in beacon mode. 
     
     
         4 . System of  claim 1 , the imaging apparatus including a light filter component having its frequency response adjusted to a bandwidth of the light emittable by the light source of the marker device. 
     
     
         5 . System of  claim 1 , the image processor configured to spatially register the image captured in beacon mode and the image captured in exploration mode. 
     
     
         6 . System of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronizer logic comprises a light sensitive sensor, the light sensitive sensor operable to effect the switching into the two intensities of the first or the second light source, in dependence on incident light received from second or the first light source, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . System of  claim 6 , wherein the light sensitive sensor is configured to facilitate i) the first light source to switch into high intensity state in response to the sensor sensing a light intensity below an intensity threshold and/or ii) the first light source to switch into low intensity state in response to the sensor sensing a light intensity above the threshold. 
     
     
         8 . System of  claim 7 , wherein the light intensity sensed at the sensor is caused by the incident light from the second light source. 
     
     
         9 . System of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus comprises an endoscope. 
     
     
         10 . System of  claim 6 , wherein the synchronizer logic is configured to automatically switch the marker device into beacon mode when an intensity of the incident light received from the second light source drops under an intensity threshold. 
     
     
         11 . A medical imaging device, comprising an image sensor to capture an image and a light source to provide ambient light for the light sensor, and a synchronizer logic operable to cause the light source being switched into at least two intensity states, a low intensity state and a high intensity state, whilst capturing images, the said switching on and off being set at a preset frequency or wherein the switching between the two intensities is in response to an external switching signal received by the synchronizer logic through an interface of the device. 
     
     
         12 . Method for marker-based navigation, comprising the steps of:
 capturing a first image with a medical imaging apparatus, whilst a light source of an implanted marker device is in a low intensity state and a second light source of the medical imaging apparatus is in a high intensity state, higher than the low intensity state of the marker; and   capturing a second image with the medical imaging apparatus, whilst the light source of the implanted marker device is in a high intensity state and the second light source of the medical imaging apparatus is in a low intensity state, lower than the high intensity state of the marker.   
     
     
         13 . Method of  claim 12 , comprising: combining the two images and, optionally, displaying the combined image on a display device, and or displaying the two images. 
     
     
         14 . A computer program element, which, when being executed by at least one processing unit, is adapted to cause the processing unit to perform one or more steps of the method as per  claim 12 . 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon the program element of  claim 14 .